Thanks Jim! Does Chretien (or his office) has an e-mail? That will make it much easier for everybody, and we could also attach the letter from Helen which should have some impact. Cheers, ajit > Hello Ajit, > > Thanks for the message and the concern. These people are for real > freedom fighters who have suffered/are suffering unimaginable > persecution. > > One thing is to organize petitions or write letters to the Government > of Canada (Prime Minister Chretien) as this alerts the Canadian > authorities that many eyes inside and outside of Canada are watching > this case very carefully. This has an effect as I know for a fact > that one of my previous appeals had been read by the RCMP and was the > basis for their subsequent release hours later (Note if indeed, Frank > had a previous warrant from 1992, why is he out now and why wasn't > this so-called warrant brought up when he was jailed previously > charged with being an "illegal immigrant?). There have been several > murders of people connected with the Tribunal and one young girl > associated with the Tribunal is missing and has been for several > weeks. > > If people feel moved to donate anything, they call can Helen's cousin > Roderick Louis at (604) 254-7153 and he can direct where to send > donations to make sure they get through. They have been left > destitute (I got their van out of impound and their food they had > just purchased had been stolen). > > Thaks very much for theinquiry. These people are for real freedom > fighters so please urge all your friends to write to Chretien's > Office (can connect with Internet directly) to protest their > treatment and note that many many eyes will be watching very > carefully. > > take care, > > Jim > > > > On 27 Jul 98 at 15:45, AK Sinha wrote: > > > Jim, > > > > Could you please give us more instructions about what a person > > like myself can and should do in this case. My best. ajit sinha > > > > > Last night (Jul 23 rd) Frank Martin (Bella Bella) and his wife Helen Michell > > > (Carrier) were arrested again--following a meeting on Indian activism > > > and plans for actions and protests. > > > > > > Frank was arrested on the basis of an alleged previous warrant in > > > 1992; the problem is, that he was just previously arrested (charged > > > with being an 'illegal alien) and nothing was said about any alleged > > > previous warrant and he was released on bail--"gating". > > > > > > I am unaware of the charges against Helen but sincerely believe that > > > this latest round of arrests needs to be examined and questioned > > > thoroughly; my personal opinion is that his is clear reprisal for the > > > testimonies and activism of Frank and Helen related to issues > > > presented at the Tribunal at which I was one of the Judge's (Pro > > > Tempore) and possibly as a result of certain issues disclosed > > > recently on SISS related to the Vancouver Club about which they may > > > have had knowledge also. > > > > > > I implore all people of conscience to call for an examination of > > > these latest rounds of arrests, intimidation and harassment. Helen is > > > presently in the Vancouver jail and Frank is at Maple Ridge as I > > > write this. > > > > > > They have been made destitute and fear for their safety and that of > > > their children. I publish Helen's appeal again to urge all people of > > > conscience to assist these freedom fighters in any way possible. > > > > > > Jim Craven > > > > > > Urgent Action > > > > > > These people recently testified at an Inter-Tribal Tribunal dealing > > > with the Residential Schools in Canada and almost immediately after > > > their testimony, actions commenced against them. I was one of the > > > Tribal Judges on that Tribunal and their testimony was moving and > > > very damaging to some of the "powers that be". Please circulate this > > > widely and help if possible. > > > > > > Jim Craven > > > > > > > > > > > > Forwarded Message Follows ------- > > > Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 15:12:34 -0700 > > > To: (Recipient list suppressed) > > > From: Steve Kisby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Subject: Appeal from Helen Michell > > > > > > July 6, 1998, update. > > > > > > Frank, Helen Michell's husband, is being held in a Pentiction jail (in the > > > interiour of British Comumbia, Canada) and is being deniged his medication > > > perscribed by a Doctor in Vancouver. The Penticton, B.C., court file > > > number is 7247C. > > > > > > Prior to being put in jail, Frank had lost 20 lbs as he couldn't eat > > > properly as a result of a beating by police, which broke his jaw. The > > > medication is for the injuries receive during the beating. So far, $150 > > > has been raised toward his bail of $500 and we desparatly need people to > > > come forward with help toward the remaining amount. > > > > > > If you can help, please contact Helen Michell c/o 2985 West 12th Avenue, > > > Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2R2, Canada. Messages may also be left with Dimitri > > > at 604-738-4260. > > > > > > In Helen's words: > > > > > > ------------------------------------------ > > > Helen Michell > > > 2985 West 12th Avenue > > > Vancouver, B.C. > > > V6K 2R2, Canada > > > > > > July 3, 1998 > > > > > > > > > Universal Declaration of Human Rights: > > > > > > Article 25; (1) Every one has the right to a standard of living adequate > > > for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, > > > clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the > > > right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, DISABILITY, > > > widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his > > > control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and > > > assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy > > > the same social protection. > > > > > > This is what my husband read out in the welfare office to the workers and > > > to the police officers before his arrest. I believe my husband is a > > > prisoner of war. > > > > > > To the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates ; > > > > > > On July 1, 1998, Canada celebrated one hundred years of GENOCIDE, on the > > > Indigenous people of this stolen land. The R.C.M.P. (Royal Canadian > > > Mounted Police -- Canada’s national police force), also celebrated one > > > hundred and twenty-five years of GENOCIDE on the Indigenous peoples within > > > Canada., > > > > > > On July 2,1998, we as an Indigenous family of North Central British > > > Columbia, Canada’s most western province, are in need of protection from > > > the British Columbia and Canadian government systems, and the Royal > > > Canadian Mounted Police. Our need for protection is vital because we are > > > against this illegal “treaty” process happening now in this province. > > > > > > And now a taste of GENOCIDE; > > > > > > For the past six months we have been living in Port Coquitlam, just outside > > > of the city of Vancouver, and we are on welfare. The government welfare > > > workers have been very discriminating towards us as a indigenous family, > > > and I have seen many discriminating social workers throughout the province. > > > These workers would do a variety of things to us everytime such as > > > with-holding our rental cheques, cutting the amounts of our cheques down, > > > laughing at us because of our disposition, kicking us out of their office > > > without our cheques, or threatening to call the police. Throughout all of > > > this, the white people who visited their offices were getting their > > > cheques, with no problem. They usually have a security guard at the office, > > > but today, there wasn’t any, and so they must of planned to call the > > > police. Our son had moved in with us, that made the social workers mad. > > > She said we couldn’t live together because we were related. We found a new > > > place in Vancouver where we could all live together. That made the social > > > workers furious, but they paid my son’s rent in the new place for the month > > > of June anyway. Our rent was paid in Port Coquitlam. Now it is July, the > > > social workers refused to pay my son’s rent at his new home and refused him > > > his sustenance cheque. Our half of the rent was paid already . So we were > > > back at the office to try and get our sons rent paid. We were already under > > > stress and illness, so we were considering putting our belongings into > > > storage and living in our van again. The workers wouldn’t budge. Instead > > > they called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on my husband. There was no > > > charges laid but my husband got hauled away , by a rude and discriminating > > > police officer. My husband was not read his rights and was not informed > > > what the charges were. Except that they say they had a warrant for his > > > arrest for being an “Illegal alien” in Canada. I had not seen any warrant > > > to this day. We had already been arrested in the past, twice each, on this > > > same charge. The rude R.C.M.P. officer threatened to take me to jail if I > > > didn’t stop taking pictures with my camera. As indigenous people in North > > > America, we have “dual citizenship” in Canada and the United States. So > > > they violated their own laws in this country and also violated our > > > Indigenous Human Rights. The R.C.M.P. officer who arrested us on the > > > “illegal alien” charge was also an indigenous person. He couldn’t tell the > > > difference between his own kind and an alien. While they were arresting my > > > husband, I quickly jumped into my van and raced into Vancouver. I have > > > never been so scared and alone. Later my husband called me and said there > > > is a warrant for my arrest also, for being an illegal alien. I called the > > > office of the elected member of the provincial legislature for Port > > > Coquitlam at 4 p.m. the same day and spoke to the office worker there. She > > > did some investigating and said the government social worker had no right > > > to treat us like that. They should of transferred my son’s file to > > > Vancouver before July. So the social workers were in the wrong, but now my > > > husband is in jail. My sons cheque was mailed out that day at 4:30 p.m. > > > thanks to the elected member’s office worker. How many other Indigenous > > > families have to suffer as we do, just to survive everyday? Most welfare > > > workers act as if the money is coming out of their pockets. > > > > > > This “illegal alien” charge is two years old this July, and they have never > > > bothered us all this time. We have been in their court rooms and police > > > station, they have been in my house in Port Coquitlam a few times. I think > > > because we are to out spoken against a fraudulent “treaty process” here and > > > to politically active that they want us dismantled and destroyed as a > > > indigenous family. They sure are doing a great job of it. > > > > > > A few weeks after this illegal alien charge in July, 1996, my husband was > > > brutally beaten up, by ten Vancouver city polices in the downtown section > > > called gastown. Half of his face was completely smashed in from a police > > > flash light. That beating took place on August 8, 1996, and my family has > > > suffered terribly because of that incident. He was in terrible pain and had > > > two tumors in his head, 27 broken bones under his ear, and his jaw was > > > broken down the middle of his mouth. At one time, because of the tumors, > > > my husband went under, while riding on the bus. They took him to the > > > hospital in an ambulance. They were getting ready to do a brain operation, > > > without anybody’s consent. My husband said he woke up to knives in the > > > operating room. He quickly jumped up and grabbed his clothing and raced out > > > without putting on his clothes. He changed his clothes in the bushes > > > outside the hospital. Since the beating , my husband has been under two > > > special doctors care and is taking special medication for his head. This > > > arrest cuts him off his treatment, which is another human rights violation. > > > > > > Since this brutal beating , the head sergeant of that Vancouver police > > > outfit died of liver cancer, a week before his retirement. Five other city > > > police officers have become mentally ill, of which one died this past > > > Saturday. We have no hand in what ever is happening to them. Justice still > > > wins in the end regardless of the injustices. They have offered Frank an > > > out of court settlement which started at $50,000 and the last offer was > > > $250,000. How much does a humans right to life cost? In my words no amount > > > of money could replace what we went through, a life of shambles and the > > > loss of many lives. Today is July 3, and it is my husbands birthday. Happy > > > birthday Frank, where ever you are. We all love you, be strong and stay > > > alive please. Maybe they will try to kill my husband while he is in > > > custody, so they don’t have to pay anything. I know they are already paying > > > for that brutal beating. > > > > > > On June 30, 1998, we buried my cousin, who was murdered on the east side of > > > Vancouver. Her sister was buried a month ago. I think she was murdered > > > also. The cousin we buried on June 30, her face was smashed in, on the same > > > side as my husbands face, when he was done in. When I looked at her in the > > > coffin, one last time, I flashed on my husbands face when he was beaten up > > > by the police. We called for an investigation on her death. Now they say > > > there are ten more indigenous women murdered or missing from the east side > > > of Vancouver. > > > > > > In 1993, our little family drove to New York city to lodge our complaints > > > to the United Nation, regarding our disposition in this country. It seems > > > like our lives went from bad to worse, after that journey. The United > > > Nations had no ears for indigenous peoples in Canada. Since going to the > > > United Nations , I have buried a brother and two nephews, and my oldest > > > sister. My brother was involved in a drug conspiracy case, he was a > > > witness. Both him and his girlfriend were killed. One nephew was run over > > > by a truck and killed instantly, his killer was never found or convicted. > > > Another nephew was stabbed six times, by a Canadian government supported > > > indigenous leader, who didn’t want to pay out settlement money owed to my > > > nephew, for the flooding out of his log houses and land. It’s weird that my > > > nephew knew when he was going to die, and who would do it to him. My sister > > > was contaminated with blood cancer, she passed away a month after the > > > Vancouver police beating on my husband. The same things happened to my > > > parents and my grandparents, who are also deceased. > > > > > > My husband and I have been together for seventeen years now. In those > > > seventeen years we have never tasted an ounce of FREEDOM without fear of > > > prosecution or worse. Our life together has been spent in the court rooms > > > and on the run. They could never convict us on any charge, there was > > > always a stay of proceedings. Throughout most of our time together, we > > > spent most of our lives as fugitives on our own lands. Our children were > > > always with us . We also have a grandchild, who we haven’t seen in two > > > years, because they live in Prince George, in the center of the province. > > > > > > I think the world should know what is happening to us and other Indigenous > > > people in Canada. who stand up for their international rights. We cannot > > > get a lawyer to represent us. No human being would represent us as humans. > > > In every way they violated our HUMAN RIGHTS, as an Indigenous family. Where > > > do we go from here? Can anyone help us? > > > > > > Human Rights is fifty years old and many of the Indigenous people in North > > > America never live past that age, because of all the abuses and useless > > > policies, and discrimination is a disease more contagious than aids. > > > > > > We are seeking funding for filing suits to sue the Canadian government, the > > > police forces, and Canadian supported indigenous governments. It looks like > > > there is no way, in this world, we could dare to go that far. With our past > > > experiences though, we know there is a higher power and miracles do happen. > > > > > > We are fighting to survive in this heartless world, and it sure isn’t > > > getting any easier. For many of our people, suicide is the easy way out. We > > > plan to stand up for our rights as a family. > > > > > > Please send letters that support us to the Canadian government. > > > > > > Meci cho (Thank you very much) > > > > > > Telqua (Helen Michell) > > > Bear Clan families of Maxan Lake > > > > > > James Craven > > > Dept. of Economics,Clark College > > > 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. Vancouver, WA. 98663 > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Tel: (360) 992-2283 Fax: 992-2863 > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > "Hitler's concept of concentration camps as well as the practicality > > > of genocide owed much, so he claimed, to his studies of English and > > > United States history. He admired the camps for Boer prisoners in > > > South Africa and for the Indians in the Wild West; and often praised > > > to his inner circle the efficiency of America's extermination--by > > > starvation and uneven combat--of the 'Red Savages' who could not be > > > tamed by captivity." ("Adolf Hitler" by John Toland, p. 702) > > > > > > "Set the blood-quantum at one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid > > > definition of Indians, let intermarriage proceed...and eventually > > > Indians will be defined out of existence. When that happens,the > > > federal government will finally be freed from its persistent > > > Indian problem." (Patricia Nelson Limerick, "The Legacy of > > > Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West" p338) > > > > > > *My Employer has no association with My Private and Protected Opinion* > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > James Craven > Dept. of Economics,Clark College > 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. Vancouver, WA. 98663 > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Tel: (360) 992-2283 Fax: 992-2863 > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > "Hitler's concept of concentration camps as well as the practicality > of genocide owed much, so he claimed, to his studies of English and > United States history. He admired the camps for Boer prisoners in > South Africa and for the Indians in the Wild West; and often praised > to his inner circle the efficiency of America's extermination--by > starvation and uneven combat--of the 'Red Savages' who could not be > tamed by captivity." ("Adolf Hitler" by John Toland, p. 702) > > "Set the blood-quantum at one-quarter, hold to it as a rigid > definition of Indians, let intermarriage proceed...and eventually > Indians will be defined out of existence. When that happens,the > federal government will finally be freed from its persistent > Indian problem." (Patricia Nelson Limerick, "The Legacy of > Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West" p338) > > *My Employer has no association with My Private and Protected Opinion* > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >